Machine for making stereotype printing-plates.



C. E. HOPKINS. MACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPI PRINTING PILATES. APPLICATION FILED FEB,v 23. 1912.

C. E. HOPKNS.

MACHINE FOR NIAKlNG STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. I9I2.

:il 99:68:,@63 o Patented June 4, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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i c. E. HOPKINS. MACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

I' l APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23| I9I2- 15268946@ Patented June 4, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

*I IN Paente June 4i, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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(l. E. H0.KINS. MACHINE FOR MAKING'STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATIOH. FILED FEB. 23. 1312.y

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c. E. HoRK1Ns. A MACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRRNTING PLATES.`

APPLICATION FLED FEB. 23,1912.

PatentedJ une 4, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 C. E. HOPKINS. MACHINE PQR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, I9I2 l 1,268,46 3 Patented J une 4, 1918.

s z I 4N @SSN I;

,CHARLES .1i sie-Hints, foi @when MASSAQHIISETTS.

MACHINE Fon Maxine ,sTEREoTY/Pn rnINVTIHNG-Pnnrns.

f .Sneeiieetien ef `Letters .Patent- Piatented Jnne, 19.18,.

Application led (February 23, 1912. Serial No. 679,358.

To all whom it. may macero:

Be yit known gthat l, CHARLES iE-z .HQIKINS, a citizen orthe @United States, yresiding at Taunton., in the-ieeunty ef ABristol. enel .State of Massaohnsetts,[have i-nwented a newand useful Maehine for` Making .Stereotype Printing-Flament which :the following .is e speeieetieh.

The nrineniel fobjeet et this` .invention is to provide a 'plant or combination ,of maehmes f0.1' more -eeenehneally .-preelueilig filiishedstereotype printingzplates than has ont Waiting for A.anyvchange in the condition of themetal.

Thisinlventi-onis designed to -take advantage of this @fact for producing .stereotype plates at,aJ very ,rapid rate and. involves the 'use et .-awplurelity of eestingfheiee 'fer-y e single xfinishing yniechanism. .f The invention also. vinvolves the provision of a novel Sreoeiver -,orreceivingplates from geach i of -the ca boXeS 1111 position to discharge -them into the-finishing;-gmeohanisln; in a. diijeot path; new vdC-.vices -K for transferring the .plates 'frommhe casting boxes, on.t eitherfside into vthe receiver, and i other improvements in various features oioonstruetion for fthe purpose Y,ofY.'Quarrying ,forward the general obj ect-sx of the invention ,stated above.

i Reference Iis to be ,hachto the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 `;is a ,planioiastereotype plate making plant ,constructed in zaccordance with zthis n invention. y

' Figv Q .;is a. sideelevation,thereof showing the rear castingbox in.closedposition and the front oneopen.

Fig. 3 .is ,amend elevation .thereofshowing the vlocking.devices fon-the -two *casting boxes in' -different positions.

Fig-iis a seetion-alview. onthe line 4 4 of 2 showing lthe'end of thefoa-sting boxes and -receiver oppOSite that shown in Fig, 3.

: Fig. :1i-san. end viewofE the .l receiver and casting boxes similar to :Figa omitting cer.- ,tam details.ofconstruction and the supporting parts.

Fig. =6 is an end view lof a vcasting box on an enlarged scale, with parts broken away, showing ;the top end of 1t-hc platev section.

Figx' is a planof the bottom end ofthe casting boxvvith a ,plate vand ymatrix there.- .in and theotherend brokenaway.

Fig. 8 isafsidey view ofone end ofthe ina.- ,chineavith one box lready to be ylockedin casting position, and

Fig. .9.,is a similar lview with the pants ylocked.

Referninggrst vto Figs. land Zeit will .be

.seen'that the inventionisshown ,in la form ih which epair of casting boxes A andl B are .mounted vparallel with rveach kotherand on opposite sides A.of a f ireceiver .C Vwhich is -in alincment with a finishing meohanism ,.D and a .cooling,mechanism E. The castlboxes, rreceiver and inshing mechanism Lare .shewii en en Iineliiie Se :that the platee canbefed down by .gravity throughthe receiver and :finishing meeheiiism and Out ,ef the eenie- This feature ie het anielementef thie. invention but .is :illustrated .ee :shewvingya convenient type of finishing and feecliiig meeheiiem te which .this invention een he ^epplietl- The Obieets- 0f .this ,iii- ,clined anrangenientland Ethe details ofthe `rmeohanism .lfor securing it will notE gone `into herein because Atheyare fully set 4forth ein my ee-.pehflihg applicaties 'f0.1' patent .,cooling.inechanism. These parts of the.I

yframe also lare shown similar `to others which 1v`have-:been employed heretofore.

- vEach,casting box comprisesamovable segr,mentalbaok,8 land agfixedvnpright core 9.

The -fr-ame Fis shown. asprovided with,V

tracksor guides 10; which have .horizontal .lparts andi'orwardly .inclined parte .and Fwith .another set of tracks. or guides 11 which are inclined fromla pointnearthe Vvcenteroflthe tracksfltothe bottom of the frame. These tracks ,or gnides are designed ,to support l.rollers `12 vand 13 respectively ,and to guidethelnin proper position.

These rollers are mounted on the segmental backs of the two casting boxes A and B respectively to support them. The motions of the backs to bring them from vertical casting position to the inclined delivering position as shown in Fig. 2 are well understood in this art. An ordinary handle latch l5 is shown for engaging the axle of one of the rollers and holding the back in delivering position.

For the purpose of locking each back in vertical casting position a pair of vertically sliding locking bars 17 are shown. These are provided with vertical slots 18 movable over rollers 19 on studs 20 near the top and bottom of the rear end of the frame. On the upper studs 20 operating handles 21 are pivoted having toggles 22 connected with the bar 17 at a point below the top frame whereby when a handle is moved from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9, the' locking bar will be positively lowered andlocked in position by the action of the toggles 22. A pair of cam slots 23 and 24 are located in inclined position so that after the back has been brought up into the vertical position shown in Fig. 8 the lowering of the bar 17 will cause these cam slots to pass down over two pairs of studs 25 and 26. The studs 25 are mounted on the edge of the back while the studs 26 are mounted on the side bars 27 of the plate carrying frame, which also comprises end rings 33, a bevel half ring 34, a tail sheet 29, and clamps 30 for the matrix M. When the backs are turned to vertical position facing the cores the studs 25 and 26 are positioned so as to be in the path of the cam grooves and when the locking devices are forced down by pushing up on handles 21 the cams engage and draw forward the backs and plate frames and lock them in casting position against the cores. A bar 28 is fixed to the straight back side of each core near the top to prevent the back from advancing too far, the bottom being taken care of in similar manner by the bevel ring 34 engaging the core face.

The plate carrying frame is pivotally mounted on the back on a shaft 35. The matrix clamps 30 are provided with operating handles 32. A spring 31 is provided in each case for holding these movable parts either in the closed or open position as inf dicated on the two sides of Fig. 6. When in closed position these bars not only hold vthe edges of the matrix but they limit and dene the edges of the casting chamber.

The shaft 35 for the plate carrying frame has an arm 36 carrying apin 37. The casting box at the left of Fig.` 4'is shown with the back and plate carrying frame in the position assumed when they have been moved up to substantially horizontal position from the casting position. On the right side of Fig. 4 the back has also been moved up to this position, but the plate carrying frame has been swung upwardly by means of the handle 38 on one of the end rings thereof, and into engagement with the These rollers are designed for receiving the cast plate H and feeding it forward as will be seen hereinafter. To one end of the shaft 39 is fastened a bracket 45 carrying a roller 46. This roller is caused to operate in a V-shaped cam plate 47 which is fixed to the end of a vertical rod 48. This rod is supported in a vertical position by bearings on the standard 40 and is normally held up resiliently by a compression spring 49. This spring forces the cam plate up against the roller 46 so as normally to hold the roller in central position and thus hold the whole receiver frame in central horizontal position as shown in Fig. 5.

Attached by studs to a bracket 50a on the shaft 39 are a set of hanging arms 50 which depend freely from their supports and come against studs 51 on the bracket to limit their inward motion. The lower ends of these arms are formed as hooks 52k turned outwardly. It 'will be seen therefore that the receiver' is normally held in neutral position by spring pressure, but that it can be swung or tilted to either side. plished by the operation of swinging the plate carrying frame onv its pivot away from Thisv is accomf the back. This motion is a pivotall one f about the shaft 39 and it causes the pin' 37 to engage in one of the hooks 52 and thereafter causes the receiver to tilt into the position shown in Fig. 4 for receiving the plate and the frame onfwhich it is held. Having transferred the plate to the receiver the frame is swung back and the plate -now rests on the receiver. The springs 49 will act on the cam plate and roller to restore the receiver to the neutral position shown in Fig. 5. 1n this position the plate rests on the rollers 44 which are free to rotate so that the plate can slide down the. incline into the finishing apparatus. In order to pre` as indicated in Fig. 4. Here the right hand lug 8 is behind the projection 54-on that side down into Athe finishing machine.

l The trip lever 259 shown in myv above .pat

ent application is illustratedliereiir asvapfy plied to each ofthe castingboxsupports-- in :position to be operated conveniently' bythe operator, for; the purpose off operating'thefrod258 and turning4 the trip shaft 257 to start the linishing mechanism. -Tlieinishing mechanismV is shown as provided fwith'opf.

-eratingdevices which will not 4bewdescribed further hereinafter as they are .fully f illusconveyer system asfany; desired kind of contrated and described in my prior application. for patent yabove identified The operationof the device is verysimple. In *ordery to,bri ng.feitlier. one of-the backs intoposition-for. receiving the i .metal the operator on-.thatfside of theinachine releases the latch l5 whichy allows that endV of*` the seginentalback to run down the tracks -1l. Asuiiicientmomentum isigaiined by vthis motion tofcause'the rollson the otlier.end.y to move up the tracks l().until, the-back'l coni'esintoicontact .with theixed core. Then, i the locking cam is operated by; moving thec handle L 2l, as,Y has @been described heretofore The casting box is now-fready or-themetal to bepouredffa-nd.- after it is' cooled the yback is unlocked b -reversingthe position ofthe handle 2l. hen'fthe vtop of the back is Vforcedover-and` the idropping of thewouter end-.alongfthe tracks `lOvservesto raise the opposite end alongthe tracksll with'the aid,

, Gommoni :means parallel with -said -boxes for receiving I plates therefrom,l and vaf Asingle yfinishing ii'iechanisinI :arranged in.; position to f. receive the plates: directly ioint said; receiv- .ing means.

offtheiinitial-iinpetus given by tlie hand of the operator. LWhenthebackisiin-fthis pohandle latch 15 is operated'toilock i-t-there.

The platecarryi-ng iframe` isg-thenftumied f on its i pivot shaft ,until :the pin 37.. engages onei'of theliooks 52. The continued motion ofthe plate carrying iframe with the plate thereinvcauses .theA ,receiver .to be tilted `on accountof this connectoninto apositionto receive the plate; Ion `vits rollers In other` words 4theJ receiver. is tilted yover to bringgthe frollers iinder the s traightedges of thel swingingfstereotypeplate held ingthe-plate frame.

Upon thereverse;movement of tlieplate cari ryingV i frame p! the compression. spring: 49;

forces the V-,sliapedicamplate 47 upwardlyfy This operates on theroller46-andcauses they receivento turnto vitseneutral position. f As thefcastplate turns axially toward the cen-. E tral position the lug L thereon passes bythe ixed proj ectiont54 lon-the receiver andleaves the plate-.supported ,by the rollers 44. As; these g are g shown i arranged in an ',inclinediv plane-the .weight of theplate wi'llcause it to move alongdownfthe plane and into 4vposition in .thefiiishing mechanism. It is Areceived ther-ein against stops as described inmyy abovementioned,l application-for- `patent Aand thereafterfshaved yandy trimmed; after the operator presses down onthertreadle 25.9;on the :side ofV the. machine on whichhe sstands.

Aften ythis it moves on down the. incliney and, into' the cooling device wliichuflushesfthe inner. :surface yof ithe plate with. water.y The 4 plate is then reiiiovedirfrointlie cooler .by hand.

It is to be understoodfof. course-ithatxthe finishing-mechanism shown. hereinl is a con- 4 venientfxonek for this 1 purpose, being.: copied i from .my above. mentioned application` for patent, but thattliisinvention. isoapable of being used with many other. kinds of. finish,- ing devices and is not limited to the gravity veyer f can be used.l In'ifact :the saine :principleucantbe ,carried outin a-machine in which the-plate. is conveyed froinuthe. re-v ceiverto the finishing device by hand. f It is tobe .understoodalso'that the particular c type 1 ofscasting box: and meansfor. opening .-andiclosingwthe saine areshow/nforA con- .veniencep and 4that the invention. is .capable tails of construction, and that it is not linie.;

itedto the mechanismhereinshown and described.

Having-thus fully descriibeclniifiyy invention what .I claim is f l; In-a stereotype platedmakingimachinenr the .combination :of aplurality:oficasting boxes arranged .parallel with :eachy other, a

Qtiln a stereotypeplate makingiplantythe combination `ofwtwo .casting boxes arrangedside by iside, and afinishing` device v arranged l :parallel therewith and inline iwith a=point halfway between themizand Aadapted ltowref ceive platesy from .either 4of: them.

3; In -a stereotype plate making plantfthe combination of: a plurality ofl casting.v boxes,-

ranged liparallel. with 4eaclr'rrother, iof la: re-

ceiver' ,between fsaidi boxes forI rec'eiiviiigythe 'plates from` both Y(if-them,l and ali-iiishing mechanism arranged at ;thez Vend of said.- reeceiver.

5;. In aI stereotype plateniakingplant, th

combination rof avpairfof. ycasting.'boxes;ar-

ceiver between them adapted to receive plates from both of the casting boxes when discharged sidewise therefrom.

6. VIn a stereotype plate making plant, thek combination of a plurality of casting boxes, a receiver arranged adjacent thereto, means for transferring a plate from each ofvsaid boxes laterally. into the receiver, and a linisliing mechanism in position to receive-th 'plates from said receiver.

7. In a stereotype p late making plant, the combination of a palrvof casting boxes, a

finishing means, and means for transferringV the plates laterally from the casting boxes and then longitudinally into the finishing means.

8. In a stereotype plate making plant, the

10. In a stereotype plate casting machine,

the combination of a pair of upright stationary cores, a pair of movablefbacks cooperating therewith, guides for guiding said backs into position to deliver thecast plates, and means between said guides for receiving a castplate 'from either back.

11. In a stereotype plate casting machine,

the combination of a pairy of casting boxes,

each having a movable memberadapted to move to positionto deliver a cast plate, and means located between said movable .members when in delivering position Yfoi .receiving the cast plate from either of them.

12. 'In a stereotype plate casting` machine, the combination of a pair of frames arranged side by side, casting boxes supported by said frames, each having a member movable on its frame to delivering position, and a receiver for the cast plate located between said frames but tiltable on a longitudinal axis into position to receive a plate directly from either casting box.

l13. In a stereotype plate arranged parallel with each other, a receiver located between the casting boxes, said receiver being mounted to swing on a longitudinal axis, each casting box having a plate delivery frame adapted to swing over into position to deposit a plate on said receiver.

14. In a stereotype plate casting machine, the combination of a pair of casting boxes arranged :parallel with each other, a receiver located between the casting boxes and mounted tof swing onf a longitudinal axis,

boxes,of a receiver, means for transferring` cast plates from one casting box to said receiver, means for transferring cast plates from the other casting box to the same receiver, a finishing mechanism in alinement with said receiver, and means for conducting the plates from the receiver to the finishing mechanism. f v

16. In a stereotype plate casting machine, the combination with a casting box, of a concave frame therein having side bars and semi-oircuiar endlbars forsupporting a semi-cylindrical plate therein, said frame being mounted to swing on a longitudinal axis at one side of the casting box, and a receiver mounted alongside the casting box adjacent 'to said axis for receiving a plate directly from said frame as the frame swings away from the casting box, said V frame being provided with means for tilt- I ing the receiver toward itself as the frame moves outwardly from the castingbox.

17. In a stereotype plate casting machine, thecombination with, a 'casting' box, yof a frame therein for supporting a cast plate, said frame being mounted to swing on la longitudinal axis at one side of the casting box, a receiver mounted alongside the casting box adjacent to said axis for receiving a plate directly from said frame as the frame swings away from the casting box, an

n arm adapted to swing with said frame, and

a hook connected with the receiver and in position to be engaged by said arm as it swings outwardly for drawing down the Y side of the receiver which is adjacent to the casting box as the frame swings outwardly.

18. In a stereotype plate casting machine, the combination with a casting box, of a frame for supporting a cast plate, mounted to swing at one side of the casting box, a receiver for receiving a plate from said frame, an arm adapted to swing with said frame, and a hook connected. with the receiver casting machine, the combination of a pair of casting boxesand in position to be engaged by said arm as 1t swings outwardly forv drawing down the side of the receiver which vis adjacent 'to the casting box as the frame swings outf wardly.y Y

the receiver toward the casting box to receive the plate.

20. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a casting box, of a receiver alongside thereof mounted on a longitudinal axis, said receiver comprising a series of freely rotatable rolls having flanges thereon for receiving the cast plate from the casting box, means for tilting the receiver toward the casting box to receive the plate, and means for automatically restoring the receiver to horizontal position after a plate is deposited thereon.

2l. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a casting box, of a receiver alongside thereof for receiving the cast plate from the casting box, means for tilting the receiver toward the casting box to receive the plate, and means for automatically restoring the receiver to horizontal position after a plate is deposited thereon, the last named means comprising an arm adapted to swing with the the receiver and having a roller thereon, and a V-shaped spring-pressed cam centrally located with respect to said receiver for engaging the arm and normally forcing it into the apex of the V to restore to neutral position.

22. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with the casting box, of a receiver alongside thereof having a series of freely rotatable rolls thereon for receiving the edges of a plate, said rolls being located on an incline, said receiver being adapted to tilt from the inclined position in which it receives a plate to a neutral position, and a fixed stop for preventing the plate from rolling down the incline while the receiver is out of neutral position, said stop being located in a position to be out of registration with the plate when the receiver is in neutral position.

23. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with the casting box having means for casting a stereotype plate Gopies of this patent may be obtained for with a lug on the riser thereof, of a tiltable receiver for receiving the plate from the casting box, toward the casting box to receive the plate, means for restoring the receiver to a nentral position with the plate thereon, and a fixed stop connected with the receiver in position to engage said lug during the motion of the plate from the casting box to the receiver, but to come out of registration therewith when the receiver is in neutral position.

24. In a stereotype plate casting apparatus, the combination with a casting box, of a receiver alongside thereof for receiving the cast plate from the casting box, means for tilting the receiver toward the casting box to receive the plate, and means for automatically restoring the receiver to horizontal position after aplate is deposited thereon.

25. In a stereotype making plant, the combination of a plurality of casting boxes arranged parallel with each other, a finishing mechanism arranged in position to receive the plates from each of said casting boxes, and a device for transferring plates from each casting box to the finishing means.

26. In a stereotype plate making plant, the combination with a number of casting boxes arranged parallel with each other, of a receiver between said boxes, means for transferring plates from each box to the receiver, a finishing mechanism arrangedat the end of the receiver, and means for conducting plates from the receiver to the finishing mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. HOPKINS.

Witnesses:

ALBERT E. FAY, C. FoRRnsT WEssoN.

ve cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Yatents, Washington, D. Il.

means for tilting the receiverv 

